Cubs defeat Giants; LA wins to stay alive

SAN FRANCISCO — Javier Baez’s tiebreaking single capped a four-run rally in the ninth inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 6-5 on Tuesday night in Game 4 to win their NL Division Series.

Held to two hits over eight innings by Matt Moore, the Cubs trailed 5-2 before coming back against a beleaguered bullpen that sabotaged San Francisco one last time.

Pinch-hitter Willson Contreras tied it with a two-run single with none out. Baez singled in the go-ahead run two batters later, and the Cubs capitalized on Gold Glove shortstop Brandon Crawford’s second costly error and more untimely blunders by the Giants’ once-reliable relief staff.

Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in order to end it.

DODGERS 6, NATIONALS 5: LOS ANGELES — Chase Utley singled home the tiebreaking run with two outs in the eighth inning, and Los Angeles avoided elimination Tuesday with a 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals that forced a deciding Game 5 in their NL playoff. Kenley Jansen worked the ninth for the save.

Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers.

Game 5 is Thursday in Washington, with 20-game winner Max Scherzer expected to pitch for the Nationals. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he will use left-hander Rich Hill and rookie Julio Urias, but did not announce which one will start.

The score was tied 5-all with two outs in the eighth when Andrew Toles got hit by a pitch from Blake Treinen. Pinch-hitter Andre Ethier followed with a single to left and Utley singled to right, scoring Toles from second for a 6-5 lead.

Trailing 5-2 in the seventh, the Nats had loaded the bases and chased Kershaw. Pedro Baez came in and hit Jayson Werth with his only pitch, forcing in a run to make it 5-3. Daniel Murphy’s single off Luis Avilan dropped between Toles and Joc Pederson in left-center field, scoring two runs to tie it at 5. Joe Blanton, who earned the win, retired Anthony Rendon on a swinging strikeout to end the inning.

Kershaw was charged with five runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out 11 — equaling his second-best postseason total — and walked two.